- A new study has found that regularly eating leafy greens can boost muscle function, which in turn could help prevent falls and fractures.
- The body converts nitrates into nitric oxide, which can open up the blood vessels, improving blood flow and exercise performance.
- In the study, participants who ate the most nitrates — which are plentiful in leafy greens like spinach, kale, and lettuce — had 11 percent stronger lower limb strength.
Eating leafy greens can do wonders for muscle strength, according to new research from Edith Cowan University.
The study, which published in the Journal of Nutrition on March 24, found that regularly eating nitrate-rich leafy greens, like spinach and kale, can boost muscle function, which in turn may help prevent falls and fractures.
The body converts nitrates into nitric oxide, which can open up the blood vessels, improving blood flow and exercise performance.
Over time, a vegetable-rich diet can improve heart health and cognitive health.
“In general, leafy greens are some of the most nutrient-rich, calorie-light foods on the planet — packing a punch with numerous vitamins and minerals,” said Dr. Casey Kelley, a family medicine physician and the founder and medical director of Case Integrative Health.
Source: healthline